The Lucknow Pact was signed between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League in December 1916 in Lucknow. The pact was signed at the annual sessions held by both the parties to put forth the common political rules including the demands of the ‘Self–Governance’ of India after the war. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, a member of both the parties had suggested in the session to put pressure on the Britishers for the liberalization of the country and allow its citizens to run their own country. Due to this, there arose a friendly relation between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League, and therefore Mohammed Ali Jinnah was given the title of, ‘Ambassador of Hindu – Muslim Unity’ by the nightingale of India, Sarojini Naidu. In this article, we will discuss the nature and importance of the Lucknow Pact which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Lucknow Pact - Background

• By 1906, a League came to existence which was then known as the ‘All India Muslim League’ in a moderate sense, and the basic aim for the formation of this league was to establish a friendly relationship with the Britishers.
• However, due to the decision of the Britishers of the partition of Bengal, the League decided to change its stance for the Britishers.
• Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the then member of both the parties, the Indian National Congress, and the All India Muslim League decided to use the opportunity as a joint venture for both the parties and put forth the pressure on the reforms of the British.
• It was the first time when both the parties stood indifferently at a joint session.
• The extremists under the head of Tilak, and the moderates under the head of Gokhale decided to meet in Bombay, where they were then co-joined by the Muslim League and formulated their constitutional demands in a mutual discussion, this led to the idea of Hindu Muslim Unity.
• The Leaders of both the parties had then gathered at a place with similar thoughts and similar pitches for their demands.
• In October 1916 within a few months from the day of the meeting in Bombay, a total of 19 elected members from both the parties then addressed a memorandum to the Viceroy for discussion of the constitutional reforms.
• In November 1916 in the following meeting in Calcutta, the suggestions of the prior meeting were discussed and agreed upon.
• Ultimately, the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress confirmed their agreement in the annual session held respectively at Lucknow in December 1916 which was then known as, ‘The Lucknow Pact, 1916.’

Nature of Lucknow Pact

• Indian citizens shall have ‘self–government.’
• Indian Council shall be put to an end.
• The British government shall be liable for the payment of salaries of the Secretary of State for any Indian affairs instead of the Indian funds.
• The president shall be elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly themselves.
• The tenure for the Legislative Assembly shall be set for 5 years.
• Until demanded, a separate electorate shall be provided for all the communities.
• The Central Legislative Council shall comprise 150 members.
• The Council shall comprise at least half the number of members to be Indian citizens.
• About 1/5th of the members shall be nominated and the remaining 4/5th shall be elected.
• Muslims should be given representation in the Central Council with an average weightage of about 1/3rd of the total members.
• Except for the members who have been nominated, shall be elected based on the adult franchise.
• Minorities shall be given representation in proportion to their population.
• In the provincial legislatures, the number of Muslims shall be laid down by the provinces.
• While the League agreed to present the government with joint constitutional demands, Congress accepted the Muslim League's position on separate electorates, which would be maintained until any one community demanded joint electorates.
• Muslims were also given a fixed proportion of seats in all-India and provincial legislatures.

Analysis of Lucknow Pact

• Both the parties, Indian National Congress and the Muslim League had agreed on the proposal of a separate electorate, which meant that the Indian National Congress had readily understood the community politics and gave recognition regarding several communities residing in India with their selfish reasons and that had led to the partition of India in 1947.
• The weightage for the representation of the Muslims was noted, but this resulted in leaving the way open for any rise in communal politics in the future.
• The League stood nowhere in politics until the Lucknow Pact of 1916.
• There began riots for communalism in Bihar, United Provinces, and Bengal when it revealed continuous disagreement among the masses and their leaders.
• The legislature could not pass the decision if there was disagreement by the 3/4th members of any religion. This led to the introduction of communalism veto in the Indian legislature.
• The approval of one-third of representations for the Muslims on the basis of their being a minority was the biggest blunder, though the Muslims deserved it on the one hand, it sowed the seeds of communal politics on the other hand.
• The pact made it open and clear that India has different communities and each one of them has its own interests.
• The Muslim member’s strength in the legislature was laid down province-by-province. This was one of the most dangerous pacifist policies of congress. It not only recognized communal representation but also recognized communal privileges.
• Nevertheless, the Lucknow pact at that time was called a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity. The unity lasted only a few years.

Outcome of the Pact

• While the Congress and the Muslim League made a concerted effort to present a united front, the Congress' acceptance of the principle of separate electorates implied that the Congress and the League came together as separate political entities.
• This was a watershed moment in the Muslim League's evolution of the two-nation theory.
• While the leaders of the two groups came together, efforts to bring the masses of the two communities together were ignored.
• The controversial decision to accept the principle of separate electorates, on the other hand, represented a serious desire on the part of Congress to allay minority fears of majority dominance.
• Furthermore, this reunion sparked a lot of excitement among the people.
• Even the government decided to appease nationalists by declaring its intention to grant Indians self-government in the future, as stated in Montagu's August 1917 declaration.

Conclusion

The Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League could be regarded as a watershed moment in the nationalistic struggle for freedom. The Lucknow Pact gave the impression of Hindu-Muslim unity in the national political scene. But it was only an impression and short-lived. The agreement between the parties on a separate communal electorate formally established communal politics in India.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What was a key feature of the Lucknow Pact of 1916?

A) Abolition of separate electorates
B) Demand for complete independence
C) Provision for separate electorates for Muslims
D) Proposal for Dominion Status

2. Who was a key Congress leader involved in the Lucknow Pact?

A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Subhas Chandra Bose

3. Which two political parties signed the Lucknow Pact in 1916?

A) Indian National Congress and Swaraj Party
B) Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League
C) Indian National Congress and Justice Party
D) All India Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha

4. What was one of the key demands of the Indian National Congress in the Lucknow Pact?

A) Complete independence
B) Representation for untouchables
C) Greater self-governance for India
D) Abolition of princely states

5. What was the significance of the Lucknow Pact for Hindu-Muslim relations?

A) It led to the partition of India
B) It deepened the divide between Hindus and Muslims
C) It was the first major agreement where both communities worked together
D) It led to the creation of separate electorates

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Discuss the significance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916 in the context of Indian politics and the freedom struggle.

Answer: The Lucknow Pact of 1916 holds significant importance in Indian political history as it marked the first instance of cooperation between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the All India Muslim League (AIML). The pact demonstrated that the two major political entities in India could unite for a common cause—the demand for greater self-governance and constitutional reforms.

The pact was pivotal in fostering Hindu-Muslim unity at a time when the British were practicing a policy of divide and rule. It introduced the concept of separate electorates for Muslims, which ensured political representation for the Muslim community, and provided a framework for future political negotiations. Though the unity achieved was temporary, the Lucknow Pact laid the groundwork for future political collaborations, strengthening the nationalist movement in India.

Q2: Analyze the impact of the Lucknow Pact on the relationship between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.

Answer: The Lucknow Pact had a significant impact on the relationship between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League. Before the pact, the two political entities had differing objectives, with the INC focused on broader nationalistic goals and the AIML concerned with safeguarding the political interests of Muslims. However, the pact brought the two groups together, allowing them to find common ground on issues of self-governance and political representation.

While the cooperation between the two parties was short-lived, the Lucknow Pact set a precedent for collaboration between Hindu and Muslim political leaders. It provided Muslims with separate electorates and reserved seats in legislatures, ensuring that their political interests were represented. This early cooperation was a critical moment in India’s freedom struggle, highlighting the potential for unity despite communal differences.

Q3: Critically examine the role of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the formulation of the Lucknow Pact.

Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Muhammad Ali Jinnah played pivotal roles in the formulation of the Lucknow Pact. Tilak, representing the Indian National Congress, was instrumental in convincing the Congress leadership to work with the Muslim League and agree to the demand for separate electorates for Muslims. His pragmatic approach to Hindu-Muslim unity was key to the success of the pact.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was a member of both the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League at the time, acted as a mediator between the two groups. He played a crucial role in negotiating the terms of the pact, balancing the interests of both parties. Jinnah’s involvement in the pact earned him recognition as a leader who could bridge the communal divide, although this cooperation between the INC and AIML was not sustained in the long term.

Previous Year Questions on the Lucknow Pact

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019:

Question: The Lucknow Pact was an agreement between which two political parties in 1916?

A) Indian National Congress and Hindu Mahasabha
B) Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League
C) All India Muslim League and Justice Party
D) Indian National Congress and Swaraj Party

Answer: B

Explanation: The Lucknow Pact was an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League in 1916, marking a significant moment of cooperation between the two political parties for constitutional reforms in India.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "The Lucknow Pact was a milestone in the Indian freedom struggle." Discuss the significance of the pact and its impact on the Hindu-Muslim unity movement.

Answer: The Lucknow Pact was indeed a milestone in the Indian freedom struggle as it marked the first formal agreement between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League, demonstrating their willingness to collaborate for political reforms. The pact symbolized a temporary truce between the two communities, as the Congress agreed to the demand for separate electorates for Muslims, ensuring Muslim representation in legislatures.

The pact had a significant impact on Hindu-Muslim unity, showing that both communities could work together toward the goal of self-governance. While the unity achieved was short-lived, the pact played a key role in the evolution of India's nationalist movement and set a precedent for future political negotiations.